Timepiece actuated locking mechanism



Aug. 6 1940. G H, 055 2,210,186

TIMEPIECE ACTUATED LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 22, 1939 2 SheetsSheet l ATIO RN EYS Aug. 6, 1940. e. H. ROSS TIMEPIECE ACTUATED LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 22, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Q 4 Q m Q -W\ //////////////AZZ/Z//y/%/////y///// w m I M, .w 4 M a m & v w a H l q Art 5.

Patented Aug, 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 22, 1939, Serial No. 296,131

10 Claims.

My invention relates to timepiece actuated locking mechanism, the principal object of this invention being to provide a device of the characterherewithin described for use in association with automobileor other locking mechanisms of conventional or novel construction, by means of which the same cannot be unlocked even by the insertion and actuation, forcible or otherwise, of

20 which cannot become unlocked by twisting .the

barrel thereof and forcibly shearing the tumblers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a; device of the character herewithin described I which may if necessary, be locked from within, such as the interior of an associated vehicle.

A further object of, my invention is toprovide a device of the character herewithin described which may by its simplified construction and operation, readily be applied to the various types of door locking devices.

With the above more important objects in view and such other minor objects as mayappear as s the specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement andconstruction' of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the. accompanying drawings, in which: 1

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the essential parts of my invention. Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevation. of the assembled mechanism, viewed along the line.:Z--2 of Figure 3 and showing the device in a locked position. I

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section-of the assembled mechanism, partially broken away to reveal the interior construction. Q

Figure 4 illustrates a detail of the timing cam and plunger. 1

Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of the mechanism of Figure 4 but showing the opposite side.

In, the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

. Prior to describing 'the mechanism illustrated on the accompanying drawings, I wish to emphasize again the statement contained in one of the foregoing objects of this invention, that the timepiece per so which at a given time operates my release mechanism, forms no part of the :55 present invention as such .timepieces are of well-known construction and Without the exercise of inventive ingenuity may be adapted for connection to my mechanism.

A cylinder lock'tumbler barrel I, conveniently operated by a suitable key inserted into the aperture 2, is equipped with a plurality of specially designed, projecting tumbler pins 3, the construction of which will be detailedhereinafter.

The said barrel l is inserted into an intermediate cylindrical member 4, and retained in such position by means of a set screw 5 stationed within the circumferential wall of the latter, and engaging an annular recess 6 in the wall of the aforementioned tumbler barrel l.

Outward movement of the tumbler pins 3 is facilitated by the provision of a pair of longitudinally extending, rectangular, diametrically opposed apertures 1, i, and the entire foregoing assembly is inserted into a cylindrical housing member 8, being retainedtherein by means of a snap-on lockring 9. Anintegral extension comprising a circular shoulder H3, a circumferential recess I I and a spur gear I 2 is provided in the base of the intermediate'member 4, the said recess H thus forming a retaining groove for the aforementioned lockring 9.

H The spur gear I2 meshesfconstantly with an identical gear I3, the latter being stationed on a shaft l4 suitably journalled in an offset bearing l5 secured to the housing 8. The rotation of this shaft I4 operates to lock and unlock the locking mechanism proper, which Ido not claim as a constituent of this invention, and hence do not illustrate.

'Four rectangular apertures l6, l6, l1, ll of substantially the same dimensions as the previously mentioned apertures I, ,1, and spaced apart by an'angular magnitude of ninety degrees, are pro vided in the lateral wall of the housing 8 immediately adjacent to the mounting flange IS. The latter is equippedwith a plurality of aper-' tures [9, by means of'which the entire device may be attached to the door.

Having described the construction of the mechanism to this extent, I shall now proceed to explain its operation, whereupon a further discussion relating to the remaining constructional details will bepresented;

With the device in an unlocked position, the tumbler pins 3 extend diametrically through the apertures I, I, into the circumferential limit of the apertures I6, I6. Since the latter, forming a part of the stationary housing 8 are non-ro tatable, the interposed cylinders I and 4 with parts thereunto attached cannot be turned. This provision will eliminate any possibility of an accidental rotation of the shaft I4 into the locked position, which may otherwise be caused by the vibration of the vehicle.

When it is required to unlock this part of the mechanism, a key insertedv into the aforementioned aperture 2 will retract the tumblers 3 into their innermost extremity, that is the outer circumferential limit of the cylinder 4 as it should be pointed out that the tumblers 3 project this far at all times. Rotation of the barrel I through a quadrant will now result in a simultaneous rotation of the adjacent cylinder 4 and the shaft I4, until an alignment of the apertures 'I', I1, and I, I1, is obtained. As previously mentioned,the movement of this shaft I4 is utilized to lock and unlock the locking mechanism proper not herein illustrated.

The removal of the key from the aperture 2 will permit a horizontal outward movement of the tumbler pins 3 into the apertures I1, II, in the stationary housing 8. This movement is automatic, rendered so by a spring action of suitable means incorporated within the barrel I, and acting directly upon the said pins 3.

Proceeding now with the remainder of the constructional details, constrictions or points of weakness 20, 20, are provided in the cross-sectional areas of the tumbler pins 3, immediately outside the periphery of the barrel I when the former are in their retracted positions. A forceful twisting of the said barrel I with a view to shearing the tumblers will result in such shearing action occurring at the said points of weakness.

The sheared-off portions of the tumbler pins are prevented from falling out of the apertures I, I, l1, II, by a cylindrical retaining cover2I. The latter is longitudinally slotted as indicated at 22, and designed to snap-on with frictional contact upon the outer wall of the housing 8 between the mounting flange I8 and the extension bracket I5 and it will be apparent that after the tumblers have been sheared as above described, further rotation of the barrel I will be confined to itself, with no movement being transmitted to the adjacent cylinder 4 and the shaft I4 as the sheared-off portion will be separated and held within'the apertures I, I, I5, I6, or II, II.

In the accompanying Figure 4, my timing cam and plunger are illustrated. Principally, the same consists of a cam 23 mounted upon a suitable shaft 24 connected to a time clock which forms no part of the present invention, this memher transmitting motion to a plunger 25 capable of linear motion and pivotally connected to a rectangular frame 25" into which the shaft 24 extends. When the tumblers are in their horizontally locked positions, the said plunger 25 travels inwardly through the slotted aperture 2% of the spring retaining cover 2|, and a circular aperture 27 of the housing 8 into a similar aperture 28 of the cylinder 4.

It will be apparent that if necessary, the intermediate cylinder 4 might be dispensed with, in which case the tumbler barrel I would be machined to fit the stationary housing member 8 so that the tumblers would extend directly into the apertures I6, I6 and l1, l1, and in which case also the spur gear I2 would be secured directly upon the rear end of the cylinder I. In this case also, it would of course be necessary to drill an aperture in the cylinder I behind the tumblers and in alignment with the corresponding aperture 28 in the intermediate cylinder 4 so that the plunger 25 could proceed thereinto without passing through the intermediate cylinder.

In addition it will be obvious that if necessary, the shaft I4 could be concentrically positioned and secured for rotation to the circular rear end wall of the intermediate cylinder 4, in which case, the spur gear I2 would be dispensed with, or to the end wall of the cylinder I, the reason for the spur gear and the oifset gear I3 being to provide a means whereby the parts of this mechanism may be offset and placed at any convenient position on an automobile door for Instance, rather than co-axial with the shaft I4 and it will be apparent that if it is necessary to off-set the locking mechanism to any substantial extent with respect to the shaft l4, the bearing I5 could be lengthened and a train of gearing employed. On the other hand, the shaft I4 might be journalled in a separate bearing. Obviously of course, when the intermediate casing 4 is dispensed with for simplicity and is extended above, no purpose is served in weakening the tumblers because the intermediate cylindrical casing is an indispensable feature in connection with the weakening of the tumblers, the outer ends of which when sheared-01f at the weakened points, lock the intermediate cylinder to the stationary cylinder 8, since they extend through the longitudinal apertures of both, thereby preventing the rotation of the intermediate cylinder and the shaft I4 to which it is indirectly connected upon continued rotation of the tumbler barrel.

Since various modifications can be made in the above'invention, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same, made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and I desire only such limitations placed thereon as are specifically expressed in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A timepiece actuated locking mechanism for use in association with barrel type locks comprising in combination, a stationary cylindrical casing, a rotatable key actuated tumbler barrel therein and a timepiece responsive locking element engageable with said tumbler barrel and disengageable therefrom at a predetermined setting of said timepiece.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said timepiece responsive locking element is in the form of a reciprocating plunger designed to extend through said stationary cylindrical casing and to engage in an aperture formed upon said tumbler barrel, said plunger being withdrawable from said aperture at a predetermined setting of said timepiece.

3. A timepiece actuated locking mechanism for use in association with barrel type locks comprising in combination, a stationary cylindrical casing, a rotatable key actuated tumbler barrel therein and a timepiece responsive locking element in the form of a reciprocating plunger designed to extend through said stationary cylindrical casing and engageable in an aperture formed upon said tumbler barrel, and a cam 9.0- 15 use in association with barrel type locks comprising in combination, a stationary cylindrical casing, an intermediate cylindrical casing therewithin and a key actuated tumbler barrel within said intermediate casing designed to rotate therewith, the tumblers within said tumbler barrel extending at all times through the longitudinal aperture formed in said intermediate casing, said stationary cylindrical casing being also provided with a longitudinal aperture with which said aperature in said intermediate casing is capable of 1 being aligned, said tumblers being weakened at a point upon their length such that when in locked position and extending through the longitudinal apertures within said intermediate casing and said stationary casing and in the event of the forcible rotation of said tumbler barrel and the consequent shearing-off of the ends of said tumblers beyond said weakened points, the said ends will remain within the longitudinal aperture formed in said intermediate casing and within the longitudinal aperture formed in said stationary cylindrical casing, as a consequence of which the same can no longer rotate with the rotation of said tumbler barrel.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 in which a retaining cover extends around said stationary cylindrical casing to prevent the outer ends of said tumblers from falling out of said longitudinal aperture in said stationary cylindrical casing in 4Q the event of the same being sheared-off as aforethrough an aperture formed in said intermediate casing and disengageable from said aperture at a predetermined setting of said timepiece to permit rotation of said tumbler barrel and intermediate casing upon key actuation thereof.

9. A timepiece actuated locking mechanism for use in association with barrel type locks comprising in combination, a stationary cylindrical casing, a rotatable intermediate casing therewithin and a tumbler barrel within said intermediate casing rotatable therewith, the tumblers within said barrel extending at all times through a 1ongitudinal aperture within said intermediate casing, said longitudinal aperture being movable into alignment with a corresponding longitudinal aperture formed in said stationary casing, a timepiece responsive locking element in the form bf a reciprocating plunger extending through said stationary cylindrical casing and capable of extending in the locked position thereof through an aperture upon said intermediate casing, said plunger being disengageable from said aperture upon said intermediate casing at a predetermined setting of said timepiece, said tumblers being weakened at a point upon the length thereof such that when in the locked position and extending through said longitudinal aperture in said intermediate casing and said stationary casing the weakened points are positioned within the longitudinal aperture formed in said intermediate oasing whereby in the event of forcible rotation of said tumbler barrel said tumblers will be shearedoff at the weakened points so that the outer ends thereof remain lodged partly within the longitudinal aperture in said intermediate casing and within the longitudinal aperture in said stationary casing, thus preventing the rotation of said intermediate casing with the further rotation of said tumbler barrel and a retaining cover extending around said stationary casing to prevent the sheared-off ends of said tumblers from falling out of the said longitudinal apertures in the event of shearing as aforesaid.

10. The device as defined in claim 9 in which a cam actuated frame travelling in guides is connected to said plunger, actuation of said cam causing said frame to move endwise and consequently said plunger.

GEORGE H. ROSS. 

